President Bola Tinubu has approved the sum of N80 billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Alau Dam in Borno State. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev made this known on Tuesday after the second Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Mr Utsev, also the chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on dams, revealed that the president had approved the rehabilitation of Alau Dam, pending ratification by the FEC. The committee was inaugurated on October 2, 2024, to assess dams nationwide and recommend improvements for better usage.

The committee, established on September 23, 2024, includes the ministers of finance, environment, works, information, and the National Security Adviser as members. President gave approval of N80billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Alau Dam in Borno State, and this is awaiting ratification of FEC while due processes are being observed.

“The Borno State government is working together to kick start the project between now and July 2025. The first component will be established to ensure flooding does not occur in Borno State in 2025. The project is to be carried out within the next 24months,” the minister added.

Utsev earlier disclosed that the committee assessed 35 Dams after its inauguration and considered the Alau Dam as most critical and most immediate for reconstruction and rehabilitation. It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the setting up of a committee to re-assess the integrity of the Alau Dam and other dams across the country.